UK Drone Registration Scheme

[FPVSteve]

The service is being developed using the Government Digital Service design
principles and governance. This includes identifying user needs by talking
directly to users and interested parties, analysing outputs and iterating designs
throughout the product development. At present, the project has completed its
Discovery (user research) and Alpha (prototyping and user testing) phases and
is about to start its Beta (system build) phase prior to launch on 1 October
2019.

Point me to an FPV / drone pilot by way of association to FPVUK or BMFA who has been part of the discovery and prototyping please, I'm genuinely interested to see who has been refining it.

[FPVSteve]

So apparently according to the info graphic:

You have to pay a yearly fee to own drones (operator) - Get Reg number
You have to take a test every 3 years (pilot) - Get flyer number

So which do we have to display on our aircraft? The Reg or Flyer number? What's the difference? And why do you have to take the test every 3 years? Will the competency levels change every 3 years?

It's  :censored:  insanity this.

[ched]

So apparently according to the info graphic:

You have to pay a yearly fee to own drones (operator) - Get Reg number
You have to take a test every 3 years (pilot) - Get flyer number

So which do we have to display on our aircraft? The Reg or Flyer number? What's the difference? And why do you have to take the test every 3 years? Will the competency levels change every 3 years?

It's  :censored:  insanity this.

I wonder how small the numbers will be? Might be difficult on some uav.

It's all bady disorganised chaos as usual. The gov will throw something at the public issue that doesn't actually solve the problem at all. It will mean that they can say 'we did something about the issue' !!!!

[BigT]

So answers: the first consultation was how they communicated with the community. Unfortunately only 1350 rc pilots out of the projected  150,000 rising to 280,000 bothered to complete it.

3 year cycle is to allow for further changes to the ANO etc.

Don't know about our numbers but in Germany it has to be on a fire resistant label.

The document is full of holes. How about this for a plan

So the responsible person could be a nominated club official? And the club pays £16.50 and I'm just a humble model flyer and pay nothing and only have to pass the test  and register. How about if I 'gift' all my models to the club so they are the operator and I'm just a model flyer 😊.

[FPVSteve]

Yea I want to hear from anyone who

a) has been involved in the development of the software
b) has been consulted as to how useful / relevant it actually is based on their knowledge (as an RC pilot).

I suspect it's been designed by committee to meet a spec, regardless of how relevant parts of it may or may not be.

[BigT]

Yea I want to hear from anyone who

a) has been involved in the development of the software
b) has been consulted as to how useful / relevant it actually is based on their knowledge (as an RC pilot).

I suspect it's been designed by committee to meet a spec, regardless of how relevant parts of it may or may not be.

Well they might have used the same mob as the RoI http://jarus-rpas.org/   Have a click through on their system, especially where you have to list all your kit
https://www.iaa.ie/general-aviation/drones/drone-registration

[BigT]

Have you seen the latest news bulletin from the BMFA? Not good!

https://bmfa.org/Portals/0/CEO/CAA%20-%20Letter%20to%20Members%20-%2030042019V3.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0pTaVdGqpEutjIVBLk9BE6emuUTEWoRYbInuAXc0l_GUeGpd2W1FL8oHg

[ched]

Have you seen the latest news bulletin from the BMFA? Not good!

https://bmfa.org/Portals/0/CEO/CAA%20-%20Letter%20to%20Members%20-%2030042019V3.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0pTaVdGqpEutjIVBLk9BE6emuUTEWoRYbInuAXc0l_GUeGpd2W1FL8oHg

Sounds like sudden panic.
I wonder what the tender spec was to create the system that seem to cost over £1 million with and update within the first 18 months costing a million?

I wonder what a Freedom Of Information request on the tender documents would shed any light on this?

Did you see Bruce's latest video where he suggests that the BMFA play CAA at their own game. i.e. register as an operator at £16.50 and then all their members put the operators registration number on all uas's and the pilots just register as pilots free of charge!!!! That way everyone is complying with the rules as currently written but denying the CAA masses of income. OK so it would only work for the first year but it would give them more time to sort out this stupid system.

[urbanfpv]

The BMFA should grow some large balls and just state: we will be advising our members not to register.
Lets face it, BMFA fields are privately owned.  Police would need a warrant to enter a field otherwise they can be politely told to f*ck off.  This makes enforcement in a BMFA field somewhat more difficult.

In order to change the law you need to break the law!

[FPVSteve]

I own my back garden ... interesting.

[BigT]

The BMFA should grow some large balls and just state: we will be advising our members not to register.
Lets face it, BMFA fields are privately owned.  Police would need a warrant to enter a field otherwise they can be politely told to f*ck off.  This makes enforcement in a BMFA field somewhat more difficult.

In order to change the law you need to break the law!

Sorry but your wrong. The new act gave police powers to enter and seize without a warrant. It had to pass through the Lords but it will be a rubber stamp.

[BigT]

I wonder what a Freedom Of Information request on the tender documents would shed any light on this?

DO IT!!!

We could just do what crims do with a pool car. Register as operator a name from the graveyard, transfer ow ership of all your models to that name, register as a pilot only.

[urbanfpv]

Sorry but your wrong. The new act gave police powers to enter and seize without a warrant. It had to pass through the Lords but it will be a rubber stamp.

Nope, they require a warrant from a magistrate.
Provide a link to your source to prove me wrong.
https://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/technology/police-secure-new-powers-to-combat-illegal-drones
Note the bit that states a warrant must be secured.

[ched]

DO IT!!!

I would but I don't have the legal expertise to work out the ins and outs of tender contracts. Maybe BFMA or FPVUK would have skills to understand the docs and process?

[BigT]

Nope, they require a warrant from a magistrate.
Provide a link to your source to prove me wrong.
https://www.fwi.co.uk/machinery/technology/police-secure-new-powers-to-combat-illegal-drones
Note the bit that states a warrant must be secured.

Point of law: The Serious Organised Crime Act 2005 gave the police greater powers to make an arrest without an arrest warrant. A police officer now has the power to arrest anyone they reasonably believe has committed an offence, is in the process of committing an offence or is about to commit an offence.

The police do not need a warrant to enter premises to carry out an arrest under certain circumstances. For example: in an attempt to save a life or prevent injury to someone or serious damage to property or when there is reasonable belief that a criminal offence is being committed". This is usually the "catch all" one commonly used. So driving up a farm track to investigate the illegal operation of a "drone"  would be allowed.

If  you are arrested for a criminal offence you can be held for 24 hours in police custody whilst evidence is collected. Currently a bench warrant would be issued to search premises. Under the new act the police then have automatic right to enter your premises and any other premises that may be connected to the suspected crime.

Currently, certain evidence is protected without a special warrant: Special procedure material: any material which the person holding it has stated they will keep confident or have been entrusted to do so. Again, in this situation the constable will require a special warrant. Under the new act police will have powers to seize data cards and any other documents and equipment the "suspect" may have been used in the commission of the offence.

Any damage proved to be caused by the entry and search can be claimed from the police authority. Whilst in custody you will be fingerprinted and dna swabbed and checked against held data bases. Police have the power to take samples without permission once a person is charged. These finger prints and dna will be held on record indefinitely if you are convicted of the offence but should be removed if found not guilty. In practice if charges are dropped but the case is kept open, records are retained.

Once cast iron piece of advice is to remain silent when questioned once you have been cautioned until legal advice has been given.

Currently the Drone Bill as it's known is still awaiting the second reading in parliament. It was due in Jan 2019 but was delayed due to the calendar being swamped by Brexit. You may be interested in reading the details. Registration and testing is the thin end of the wedge.

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2017-2019/0325/cbill_2017-20190325_en_2.htm#l1g6